Scoring apparatus



Nov. 8,;1938. H. THORNE SCORING APPARATUS Filed .March 51, 1957` Patented Nov. 8, 1938 SCORING APPARATUS Harold Thorne, London, England Application March 31,

1937, Serial No. 134,158

In Great Britain May 22, 1936 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a scoring apparatus for scoring at games, particularly card games such as contract bridge.

` A contract bridge scorer has been proposed having a plurality of endless bands mounted in a frame so as to be traversable in relation to a slot and a score window, the bands being provided with numerals set out in a scale, so that by shifting the bands, which may be provided with holes to facilitate movement, in one or the other direction according to whether it is desired to add or subtract from the score, the numeral i. e. the total, showing in the score window will alter accordingly.

In the prior arrangement the holes or other means, by which the bands are shifted, such as by insertion of a pointer, are placed between the numerals with the result that they are visible not only in the score window but in the slot.

According to one feature of the invention the holes or their equivalent are placed to one side of the numerals on the bands or tapes, and the score windows correspondingly arranged out of alignment with their associated slots so that only the holes can be seen in the slots. The numeral scales at the side of the slot are arranged in increasing or decreasing multiples of the scoring units. Two Scales for scoring in tensy and hundreds will be found suicient.

This arrangement facilitates scoring since it prevents confusion between the numerals on the tape and those of the scale on the casing extending alongside the slot.

According to the invention the band or bands, between the rollers or other supporting means, on which it is mounted is given a twist so that the score numerals can be placed on both surfaces thereof, which enables a considerable saving in space.

Preferably the numerals forming the scoring scale are arranged centrally on the band and two sets of holes or other markings are provided on each side thereof.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a bridge scoring apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional View showing the method of mounting the scoring tape.

Figure 3 is a plan View similar to Figure 1 but with the top removed to show the tape and mounting therefor.

Figure 4 is a vertical section.

Referring to the drawing the apparatus com- (Cl. 23S- 71) prises a back piece I, along the upper edge of which is a box shaped housing comprising side walls 2 and 3 and a cover piece 4, and within which housing the scoring mechanism is mounted. The base piece I is adapted detachably to receive a scor- 5 ing pad indicated at 5 and provided with tearoff sheets having we and they columns of conventional form.

The block 5 may be positioned by means of upstanding ears 6 bent up out of the metal of the 10 back piece, and between which and the inner wall 2 of the housing the block is held.

The cover piece 4 of the housing is cut away to provide two slots I and 8 termed respectively the tens and hundred slots, each slot having a corre- 15 sponding registering aperture or window 9 and I0 offset with respect to the associated slot through which the total score is indicated.

Extending beneath each slot is one side of an endles tape, band, or ribbon, the two tapes which are indicated at II and I2 being guided in their movement beneath the slots. Within the housing is a metal frame I3 of channel section and extending along the upper side of which are grooves II and I2' for the reception of the ribbons. Each groove is also recessed as at I4 to a depth sufficient to accommodate the point of a pencil or other pointed stylus. At each end the framing I3 is cut away as at I5 to provide forwardly extending fingers I6 and to accommodate a roller or like piece I'I which is dropped into trunnion slots I8. The tape is passed over the roller pieces I1 and guided by the fingers I6.

The ten and hundred tapes are respectively marked with the indicia or numerals running in numerical, e. g., arithmetical progression in multiples of tens and hundreds, the multiples being arranged in series, which as hereinafter explained ascend and descend from Zero, and being so positioned for the same reason, centrally of the tape so as to appear in the total windows 9 and I0. In the case of the tens tape, in order to avoid setting out the multiples of ten in full they are marked in multiples of one and opposite the ten window is written a nought. Likewise in the case of the hundred tape instead of marking the tape in hundreds it is marked in multiples of tens.

The tapes, in order to economize in space and to make use of the full length of the tape as represented by both surfaces thereof, are each twisted through an angle of 180 as can clearly be seen from Figures 2 and 4. By this means iirst one surface or face and then the other surface or face of the tape will move past its window.

Thus one surface of the tape may be marked with indicia in multiples of ten representing a positive score and the other surface of the tape to indicate a negative score. Conveniently the positive score may be marked in black and the negative score in red, or vice versa to render the negative score numbers easily discernible from the positive score numbers.

In each tape is provided a series of markings spaced at intervals corresponding to the distance separating the multiples of the units shown on the tape. The markings on the tape may consist of small holes to assist movement of the tape. Thus by moving the tape through a predetermined distance relative to the slot it will cause the number rst appearing in the total registering aperture or window to change, either by adding or subtracting an amount equal to the movement of the tape. Hence if the ten tape is shifted a distance equal to four holes, the sum of 40 will be added or subtracted from the score according to the direction of movement of the tape.

Conveniently each tape is perforated, such as by means of round holes indicated at i9 of a size to t the point of a stylus or pencil. It is to be observed that the numerals on the tapes do not appear in the slots 'l and 8 through which only the holes I9 or other markings that may be provided are visible. This is due to the fact that the numerals on the tape are not in the same alignment as the holes, being to one side thereof. Consequently the score windows S and l) are correspondingly positioned in relation to the slots so that only the numerals will show therein.

In the preferred arrangement where the tape is twisted so that both surfaces may be used, two sets of holes or markings one on each side of the numerals and adjacent opposite edges of the tape are provided, one for use with the markings on one surface and the other for those on the other surface when the position of the edges of the tapes is reversed in relation to the slot, the numerals remaining central.

Each slot 'l and 8 is of a length equal to the distance necessitated to accommodate the movement of the tape required to add or subtract a predetermined maximum score. Thus for the ten tape a score of is suicient, and for the hundred tape a score of 1000.

Extending along the edges of the slots are scales representing the tens and hundreds. Each slot has two scales running in opposite directions and at the end of the slots, as shown, is suitable wording indicating the movements of the tape to the left or right in the direction of the arrows required for scoring at the game of bridge. For a we score the tape is moved in one direction to the right and for a they score in the opposite direction to the left, the two movements automatically cancelling each other so that the proper score will automatically appear in the total Window. When holes are provided, to score, only requires the insertion of the pencil, say in the hole in the tape appearing opposite the forty slot, when by moving the tape until the pencil engages an end of the slot or until it appears opposite a zero mark, it is possible to add or subtract the sum of forty points from the total, which will then appear in the Window.

l. Apparatus of the class described having a casing provided with a stylus-receiving slot, a band having a twist of a plurality of stylusengaging means adjacent opposite edges of the band and disposed in laterally spaced rows extending longitudinally of the band, and means mounting the band for movement within the casing, said slot being offset with respect to the longitudinal center line of the band so as to be disposed in the path of travel of a single row of stylus-engaging means, there being a row of indicia on each face of the band along the center line thereof and an individual indicium registering aperture in the casing for the said indicia, the construction causing the stylus-engaging means of both rows and on both faces of the band through travel of the band to successively register with the same slot.

2. Apparatus of the class described having a casing provided with a stylus-receiving slot, a band having a twist of 180, a plurality of stylus-engaging openings disposed in laterally spaced rows extending longitudinally of the band, and means mounting the band for movement within the casing, there being a row of indicia on each face of the band along the center line thereof and an individual indicium registering aperture in the casing for the said indicia, said casing concealing one row of openings and said slot being disposed in the path of travel of the other row of openings, the construction causing the openings through travel of the band to successively register with the same slot.

3. Apparatus of the class described having a casing provided with a stylus-receiving slot and a window offset with respect to the slot, a band having a twist of 180, a plurality of stylus-engaging means disposed in rows on the band with one row along each longitudinal edge portion thereof engageable by the stylus from either face of the band, indicia on each face of the band disposed between the said rows of stylus-engaging means for observation through said window, said slot being disposed in the path of travel of a single row of stylus-engaging means, the construction causing the stylus-engaging means of both rows and on both faces of the band through travel of the band to successively register with the same slot.

HAROLD THORNE. 

